HBO Max Movie Club

In some of the most unpredictable ways, “The Bodyguard” is the ultimate queer narrative! The romantic drama follows a former Secret Service agent tasked with protecting a high-profile actress and singer, iconically starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. On this episode, journalist & podcaster Sam Sanders joins Matt to explore the legacy of Whitney Houston’s acting debut. Most notably, the soundtrack for the film featuring Whitney’s cover of “I Will Always Love You,” cements the lovable legacy with the best-selling soundtrack of all time. At the height of her living stardom, Whitney’s performance was best highlighted by the film’s unforgettable musical moments and cultural iconography. Watch on HBO Max: “The Bodyguard” until December 31, 2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Little Shop of Horrors” is an iconic American horror comedy musical turned film, but simply put, it is a cult classic. Starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, and countless iconic cameos, “Little Shop” somehow makes murder endearing when paired with a catchy, early 1960s rock & motown soundtrack. The film follows Seymour, a nerdy flower shop attendant, who seizes an opportunity to jumpstart the straining business, as well as a hopeful romance with his co-worker Audrey. Discovering an alien plant that feeds only on human flesh and blood, this adaptation of an Off-Broadcast musical toes the line between chaotic camp and creative comedy. To honor the madness, personality and mogul, Michelle Collins, joins Matt to dive into everything from the sexuality of an alien plant to the featured tentacle work. Watch on HBO via HBO Max: “Little Shop of Horrors” until December 31, 2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Magic Mike” was the major box office hit to spawn the G-string paradise that would kick off the female frenzy and boost Channing Tatum’s sex symbol status as a movie star. This week, Matt is joined by comedian and friend, Mary Beth Barone, to revisit the cultural phenomenon that took straight women by storm. From the iconic Live stage show to the 3rd installment “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” the original film became a franchise that could actually make hot beefcakes into art. Following the woes of Maimi’s Magic Mike, the headliner in an all-male revue, the screenplay was inspired by Channings own stint as a roofer by day and professional stripper by night. The film contains clear shock value with much eye candy, but is surprisingly even more shocking with it’s deeper storylines, star-studded cast, and acclimated direction by filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. Watch on HBO via HBO Max: “Magic Mike” until May 31, 2023 and “Magic Mike XXL” until July 31, 2022. “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” is heading to theaters on February 10, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Satire-comedy, “9 to 5,” stars the iconic trio, Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda), Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin), and Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton), as exhausted secretaries navigating their toxic workplace. While under the heavy thumb of their sexist boss, they find their wildest revenge fantasies coming true, while of course, hilarity ensues. To recall the classic, Matt is joined by writer and friend of the show, Louis Virtel, to reflect on Jane Fonda’s imprint on the film, and gush over favorite scenes and BTS gems. Establishing Dolly as more than a country singer and entertainer, but truly as a star, “9 to 5” started life-long friendships for the leading ladies and cemented a home for acrylics in the workplace. Never forgetting the song of the same name, “9 to 5” was a Billboard Hit and Grammy winner, and simultaneously immortalized the legacy of the film. Watch on HBO via HBO Max: “9 to 5” until March 31, 2023 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where would we be without ‘90s teen movies? A true time capsule of over-the-top high school stereotypes, films like “She’s All That” left their mark on informing a generation of rom-com drama addicts. Matt is joined by the second half of the “Seek Treatment” podcast, Pat Regan, to rewind the tapes and share their take on the teen classic. The clichés colored the foundation for their nineties youth and the politics of a high schooler’s social life. In a world of aesthetic outdoor lockers, the romantic chemistry between Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook had no better place in teen history. Don’t forget to submit your hot takes for our next movie club meeting on “Love & Basketball” with #maxmovieclub to @hbomaxmovies on Twitter and Instagram! Watch on HBO via HBO Max: “She’s All That” until March 31, 2023 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Televangelist turned queer icon, Tammy Faye Bakker redefined the boundaries of her religious beliefs. Equal parts comedy and tragedy, Tammy’s story is quite the Hail Mary as she and her husband, Jim Bakker, turn their ministry into the world’s largest religious broadcasting network. It seemed the only appropriate way to discuss this story through “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” was for Matt to sit down with the film’s director - the one and only, Michael Showalter! They talk Jessica Chastain’s Academy Award® winning performance, Tammy’s earnest and quirky persona, and... Showwalter’s favorite soup? In Chastain’s ultimate transformation, the film follows the epic rise and fall of the Christian empire Tammy helped build alongside her own transformation into a campy entertainer and immortalized LGBTQ+ ally. Don’t forget to submit your hot takes for our next movie club meeting on Julia Roberts with #maxmovieclub to @hbomaxmovies on Twitter and Instagram! Watch on HBO via HBO Max: “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” until August 31, 2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No better way to celebrate Pride Month with the movie club than to talk about the colorful and energetic classic “The Birdcage.” Joining Matt to explore this flamboyant 90s feel good film is comedy duo Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp. The remake of the French film "La Cage aux Folles" presents a challenge to family values for South Beach drag club owner Armand (Robin Williams) and his life partner, Albert (Nathan Lane). The couple is determined to appear straight for their son and his conservative father-in-law-to-be, which proves to be nothing short of a production. With equal parts levity and homage, this week’s movie club meeting understands the insanity of this film in queer culture cannon. Don’t forget to submit your hot takes for our next movie club meeting on the new “Father of the Bride” with #maxmovieclub to @hbomaxmovies on Twitter and Instagram! Watch on HBO via HBO Max: “The Birdcage” until July 31st, 2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As part of so many modern classics, and a proper example of Hollywood royalty, Renée Zellweger is the focus of our first movie club meeting. To explore everything from her British embodiment in Bridget Jones’s Diary, to her depth and humor in Chicago, host Matt Rogers welcomes the Roxie to his Velma. You may know this first guest from Saturday Night Live, or their podcast Las Culturistas: Bowen Yang is the name on everyone’s lips. The duo tracks Renee’s rise to superstardom as her bold energy and acting prowess warrant an outstanding award-winning career - verified by wearing canary on a red carpet in 2001 nonetheless. On HBO Max: catch Chicago until Dec 31, 2022, Bridget Jones' Diary until July 31, 2022, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason until Oct 31, 2022, Bridget Jones' Baby until July 31, 2022, Cold Mountain until Aug 3,1 2022, and Down With Love until Dec 31, 2022. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of The Matrix Resurrections (coming to theaters and HBO Max on December 22nd), host Matt Rogers makes good on his promise from the Keanu-thon episode by revisiting the films that started it all! And to make this week's episode of HBO Max Movie Club extra special, we've invited the boys from the Blank Check podcast (Atlantic film critic David Sims and actor Griffin Newman) to help Matt detangle what exactly makes The Matrix one of the most iconic film franchises of all time. Together the three reclaim "red pilling," fawn over groundbreaking CGI, and discuss the film's reflection of the cultural era it belongs to: think the late 90s, Bill Clinton, pre-9/11, "end of history" vibes. The Matrix Resurrections is available in theaters and on HBO Max, in the US only, for 31 days from theatrical release. You can watch The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions on HBO until January 31st, 2022. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on HBO Max Movie Club, host Matt Rogers has a special treat for you all: rewatching his favorite movie of all time, Clueless! Joined by writer, podcaster, and friend Louis Virtel, the two discuss every possible literal detail of this iconic movie they could think of. Spectacular yet surprisingly affordable wardrobe? Check. Exactly how director Amy Heckerling managed to bottle 90s teen essence into a cult classic? Check. Gay representation without being the butt of the joke, in the 90s? CHECK. Also, the pair reminisce over Brittany Murphy's unique talent and weigh in on the "controversial" pseudo stepsibling love story. So tune in — this episode is one for the yearbook. King Richard is available in theaters and on HBO Max, in the US only, for 31 days from theatrical release. You can watch Clueless on HBO via HBO Max until 5/31/22. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this week’s installment of HBO Max Movie Club, host Matt Rogers attended a screening of the new Dune with his good friend and SNL writer Sudi Green... and they 👏 had👏 a 👏blast. From Dune’s iconic Hans Zimmer score to a big Jesus storyline, these two discuss every nook and cranny of the fantasy novel-turned-film-turned-film-again. In fact, they had so much fun watching the film in a real-life theater, that they just might move into one (not really—but they were definitely reminded of how great a “Big Adventure Book” on the big screen can be). They also share their best viewing experience advice by answering some burning questions: Do you need to read the book in order to “get” the film? Should you see the movie while dead-ass sober? Is the fear of phallic worms a prohibitive condition for watching? Give a listen to find out. Dune is available in theaters and on HBO Max, in the US only, for 31 days from theatrical release. You can catch Dune (1984) on HBO via HBO Max until 11/30/21 and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King on HBO Max until 12/31/2021. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on HBO Max Movie Club, prestige Oscar film fans, you’re in for a treat! Clint Eastwood’s newest film Cry Macho is premiering on HBO Max, and to celebrate, host Matt Rogers is taking a deep dive into the famed actor/director’s legendary filmography. Joined by comedian, writer, and friend Gabe Liedman (Q Force), Matt unpacks all things Clint. From Bridges of Madison County to Gran Torino, the pair break down just why Clint Eastwood is a living legend. So Go Ahead, give it a listen, and Make Our Day. Cry Macho is available in theaters and on HBO Max, in the US only, for 31 days from theatrical release. You can also watch Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino on HBO Max until December 31, 2021. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices